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Greetings

Simon Peter, a slave and emissary of Messiah Yeshua,

To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua:

May grace and shalom be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Yeshua our Lord.

Qualities for Living Forever

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue. Through these things He has given us His precious and magnificent promises,[a] so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, since you have escaped the corruption that evil desires have brought into the world. Now for this very reason, making every effort, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, love. [b] For if these qualities are in you and increasing, they keep you from becoming idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. But anyone who lacks these qualities is blind—nearsighted because he has forgotten his cleansing from past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make all the more effort to make your calling and election certain—for if you keep doing these things, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Messiah Yeshua, will be richly provided for you.

12 Therefore I intend to keep reminding you of these things, even though you know them and are well-grounded in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right to stir you up with a reminder, as long as I remain alive in this “tent” of a body[c] 14 knowing that my death[d] is soon, as our Lord Yeshua the Messiah has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort for you to always remember these things even after my departure.

Distinguishing True Testimony from Tales

16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!” [e] 18 And we ourselves heard this voice come out of heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain. [f] 19 Furthermore, we have the reliable prophetic word. You do well by paying attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. [g] 20 Above all understand this: no prophecy of Scripture comes about from a person’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought forth by human will; rather, people spoke from God as they were moved by the Ruach ha-Kodesh.[h]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:4 cf. Josh. 21:4; 1 Kings 8:56; Jer. 33:14.
  2. 2 Peter 1:8 Grk. philadelphia (brotherly love); agape (love).
  3. 2 Peter 1:13 cf. 2 Cor. 5:1.
  4. 2 Peter 1:14 Lit. the laying aside of my tent.
  5. 2 Peter 1:18 Matt. 17:5; (note also Matt. 3:17).
  6. 2 Peter 1:19 cf. Matt. 17:1, 5; Mk. 9:2-7.
  7. 2 Peter 1:20 cf. Num. 24:17.
  8. 2 Peter 1:21 cf. 2 Sam. 23:2; 2 Tim. 3:16.

Salutation

Simeon[a] Peter, a servant[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:[c]

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

The Christian’s Call and Election

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by[d] his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual[e] affection, and mutual[f] affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters,[g] be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

12 Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body,[h] to refresh your memory, 14 since I know that my death[i] will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Eyewitnesses of Christ’s Glory

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved,[j] with whom I am well pleased.’ 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.[k]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 Other ancient authorities read Simon
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 Gk slave
  3. 2 Peter 1:1 Or of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 Other ancient authorities read through
  5. 2 Peter 1:7 Gk brotherly
  6. 2 Peter 1:7 Gk brotherly
  7. 2 Peter 1:10 Gk brothers
  8. 2 Peter 1:13 Gk tent
  9. 2 Peter 1:14 Gk the putting off of my tent
  10. 2 Peter 1:17 Other ancient authorities read my beloved Son
  11. 2 Peter 1:21 Other ancient authorities read but moved by the Holy Spirit saints of God spoke